Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes a player's results over six half-year periods. The GPI also ranks the top performers of the year over two six-month periods as calculated by the USA Today Global Poker Index point system.

The top 10 of the GPI Player of the Year race remained unchanged this week, with Paul Volpe leading the way by just over 14 points. Outside of the top 10, Ravi Raghavan climbed up seven spots to No. 24. Raghavan has recently been credited with a runner-up finish in a $1,000 no-limit hold’em event during the Binions Poker Classic, where he earned $20,295. In 2012, Raghavan finished runner-up in the in the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic, banking $1,268,571.

GPI 300 Top 10

Rank

Player

Total Score

Rank Change

1

Jason Mercier

3235.74

--

2

Philipp Gruissem

3194.42

--

3

Marvin Rettenmaier

3144.81

--

4

Ole Schemion

3028.31

--

5

Joseph Cheong

3028.23

--

6

Daniel Negreanu

3017.37

--

7

Michael Watson

2997.41

--

8

Igor Kurganov

2926.72

+3

9

Bertrand Grospellier

2910.22

-1

10

Steve O'Dwyer

2859.99

-1

While Jason Mercier still leads the top 300, Igor Kurganov has found his way into the top 10, moving up three spots from last week. Kurganov only cashed in one event at the 2013 World Series of Poker, finishing 11th in Event #52: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em (Six-Handed) for $71,071, but he has nearly $3 million in earnings this year alone. The Russian-born pro cashed in all three high roller events at the Aussie Millions, winning the $25,000 Challenge and finishing second in the $100,000 Challenge, and finished sixth in the GuangDong Asia Millions Main Event, earning just over $1 million.

Mercier was unable to capture his third bracelet at this year’s WSOP, but he maintained his lead in the GPI 300 with six small cashes in Las Vegas. With both the WPT and European Poker Tour seasons about to kick off, there will certainly be more movement within the top 10, and we will see if the American can retain the top spot.

Welcome to the GPI

New Additions

Player

Total GPI Score

GPI Rank

Andrey Shatilov

1479.05

171

Kiryl Radzivonau

1318.97

232

Alan Engel

1264.23

264

Owen Crowe

1232.56

282

Anthony Gargano

1211.89

297

Marco Johnson

1211.11

298

Ondrej Vinklarek

1208.14

299

Jesse Yaginuma

1208.13

300

Andrey Shatilov not only entered the GPI 300 this week, he nearly leapfrogged the entire field. During the 2013 Merit World Cup of Poker, the Russian won the $10,000 high roller, finished eighth in a $1,000 bounty event, and finished third in a $1,380 heads-up event. Shatilov has $642,010 in earnings in 2013, which dwarves his previous record-high of $127,584 in 2012.

Also joining the GPI 300 this week are 2013 WSOP bracelet winner Marco Johnson and Canadian pro Owen Crowe.

Biggest Gains

Rank

Player

Total GPI Score

Change

98

Justin Zaki

1797.70

+27

132

Frank Rusnak

1655.08

+20

148

Jeff Lisandro

1585.95

+20

179

Michel Abecassis

1467.86

+23

192

Ty Reiman

1440.75

+25

200

Tony Cousineau

1414.92

+34

215

Craig McCorkell

1379.50

+35

233

Tobias Peters

1316.64

+37

236

Jacob Schindler

1310.98

+54

251

Jared Jaffee

1283.09

+40

American Jacob Schindler made the biggest leap this week, moving up 54 spots to No. 236. Schindler cashed seven times at the 2013 WSOP, including two top-13 finishes and a cash in the Main Event. Schindler also finished 11th in the Carnivale of Poker Main Event. Jared Jaffee, Craig McCorkell, and Tony Cousineau also moved up more than 30 spots this week. Cousineau cashed five times at the 2013 WSOP, adding to his record for most cashes without a bracelet. The pro has now cashed in 59 WSOP events (13th all time) without capturing the gold.

Biggest Drops

Rank

Player

Total GPI Score

Change

182

Darryll Fish

1465.11

-40

256

Andrea Dato

1277.40

-67

262

Tam Truong

1267.14

-56

284

Jan Collado

1231.43

-43

286

Adam Levy

1228.68

-62

291

Yung Hwang

1224.51

-55

Taking the biggest hit this week is Italian Andrea Dato. Dato has only cashed four times since 2012, and one of them is for only $5,555. Adam Levy and Tam Truong also took sizable hits, falling 62 spots and 56 spots respectively.

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